Ruth Rendell

Ruth Rendell (born Ruth Barbara Grasemann; 1930–2015) was an English author renowned for her thrillers and psychological murder mysteries, best known for the Chief Inspector Wexford series starting with From Doon with Death (1964) and standalone novels exploring criminals' psyches, as well as works under the pseudonym Barbara Vine. She began as a journalist, published over 60 novels selling millions of copies, won numerous awards including multiple Crime Writers' Association Daggers and Mystery Writers of America Edgars, was appointed CBE in 1996, and became Baroness Rendell of Babergh in the House of Lords.